Talking to America's youth about the birds and the bees has been a topic for close to a century. Parents, educators, health care professionals and politicians have been arguing over what's best for the children for decades, but what kind of impact have these discussions made on LGBTQ youth in the United States?

Sexual education was first implemented into school curriculums in the early 1900s and became widespread by the 1960s. When the HIV/AIDS epidemic hit in the 1980s, conservative groups began implementing "abstinence education" and other lessons that claim to educate students against risky behavior. Since then, tens of millions of dollars have been directed at strengthening sexual education curriculum that focuses on abstinence, misinformation regarding healthful practices, and anti-LGBTQ sentiments.

Family is the common theme at Triangle Community Center’s (TCC’s) co-sponsored housing program at Moore Place. One resident said it best: “Moore Place is more than just a shelter- it is a healthy home.” This is especially true during the holidays. Home and family are redefined at Moore Place with volunteers, staff, and residents coming together to create family dinners and spend time appreciating the makeshift family they support on day in and day out. Another resident said of their familial bond that:

“Whatever we have in surplus, we bring to the dinner table. My roommates and I have been able to discover our sense of belonging. We’ve developed a strong bond, and I am always happy to see their lives change. Since I started living here, I have seen residents move into their own apartments as many more have come to find a safe haven in their place.”

Rarely do people discuss the connections between the LGBTQ communities and issues of immigration. Nearly 300,000 adults in the United States today identify as LGBT undocumented immigrants. This equates to 30 percent of the LGBT immigrant community. Further, there are an estimated 32,300 binational same-sex couples in the Unites States. [1]

This means that only one of the individuals is a native-born US citizen. The LGBTQ community has in the recent past faced issues of not having their same-sex marriages recognized by local and federal authorities, creating negative financial consequences.